..wow, England and Manchester United’s greatest ever goalscorer who has won every domestic honour in the game, captained his country and won more caps than any other outfield player.
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..wow, England and Manchester United’s greatest ever goalscorer who has won every domestic honour in the game, captained his country and won more caps than any other outfield player.
..Jon O’Connor is one who springs to mind for me. He was even selected to join the full England squad for a game at Wembley as part of his development.
Foot Long Hot Dog
Player Valuation: A packet of pork scratchings
Rodwell bombing is the biggest surprise for me in recent years. I remember watching him as a 16 year old in a pre season at Forrest and I described him as a ‘rolls royce’ due to his composure and confidence on the ball. Sad to see the lad bomb in the end.
...a couple from yesteryear;
Archie Styles had great pedigree playing for England Schoolboys U15s when that was really some achievement. He came into the side as a classy LB but never established a place and went to Birmingham as a makeweight in the Latchford/Kendal deal.
Gary Jones was a fine footballer but was another who never reached the heights of his ability.
I think with the majority of players in this thread, it demonstrates that ability alone is generally not enough.
Archie Styles had great pedigree playing for England Schoolboys U15s when that was really some achievement. He came into the side as a classy LB but never established a place and went to Birmingham as a makeweight in the Latchford/Kendal deal.
Gary Jones was a fine footballer but was another who never reached the heights of his ability.
I think with the majority of players in this thread, it demonstrates that ability alone is generally not enough.
Rooney might have been on that podium with Messi if he'd spent all his hours and downtime concentrating on his career... but, hey, he did well enough, just not Messi and Ronaldo levels of dedication.
I notice a theme here tho' - a lot of the players seem to have failed (or diminished) after a serious injury: Bolasie, Vaughan, Rodwell, Barkley, Smallman for example.
Here's more: Jimmy Husband took a hell of a battering and wasn't quite the same. Joe Royle was another post around 1972. Alan Whittle shone brightly in 1970... John Connolly, Micky Buckley
I notice a theme here tho' - a lot of the players seem to have failed (or diminished) after a serious injury: Bolasie, Vaughan, Rodwell, Barkley, Smallman for example.
Here's more: Jimmy Husband took a hell of a battering and wasn't quite the same. Joe Royle was another post around 1972. Alan Whittle shone brightly in 1970... John Connolly, Micky Buckley
..I actually think Vaughan’s injury problems were an issue at youth level. If I remember rightly his joints were a major problem and it’s orobably a testament to his attitude that he’s managed to have a lengthy career in the game.
Francisco Junior
That goal against Morecambe filled me with such hope
That goal against Morecambe filled me with such hope
BernieH
Player Valuation: £35m
Definitely Branch, he was so highly rated, Jeffers and Grant and Cadamarteri currently Barkley looks like he will never hit the heights expected. I wish we would have kept Ball and Dunne longer.
John Ebbrell and David Unsworth are notable mentions from the academy.
John Ebbrell and David Unsworth are notable mentions from the academy.
Geoff Nulty
Player Valuation: £750k
I know it sounds daft to say so, but I sort of agree about Rooney. He fulfilled a different kind of potential anyway. When he was still with us, Colin Harvey said he could become England's Maradona - playing where and how he liked. Ferguson turned him into a world class, but standard, centre forward.
There are a few others that have been mentioned, like Cadamarteri, who suffered coming into poor teams, and also from being messed around - playing well and then being rested. There's a lot to be said for just playing, and the rest of us putting up with the odd poor game.
The Penalty Box Dancer
Player Valuation: £35m
Surprised nobody has mentioned Ryan Ledson.
BernieH
Player Valuation: £35m
I know why people are saying Rooney, it's not a disrespect it's just saying that actually he had the ability to have done even better than he did but his passion for alcohol fags and hookers didn't let him take the next step ala Ronaldo and Messi. At Utd first, people thought Rooney not Ronaldo was the one who would become a Ballon d'or winner but I think it was 2005 after that Euros when Ronaldo just clicked into gear and rooney just stayed at the level he was at.
royalblue66
Player Valuation: £70m
James Beattie, another big fish from a small pond, useless pillock.
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